Apparatus for making tires.



L R. (SM/@MEYER L W. MLN.

APPARATUS FUR MAKiNG URES.

APwfMio-N Ham SAN.

WITNESSES l. R. GAMMETER 61 W` H. ALL'EN.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING TIRES.

APPLICATION msu 1111115.11113.

Patented 11ay16,1916.

2 SHETSWSHEET 2x INVENTUHS WIT/VESSEL? ATTORNEY f 'man sfrarns ra'rnivr onirica.

JOHN R. ,GAMMETER AND WALTER H. ALLEN, F AKRONpOHIO, ASSIGN'ORS T0 THE B. F. GGODBICH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPOKRATION OF-NFV YORK.

AU?IE'ATELA'ZUS FOR MAKING TIRES.

specication @f Letters ratent.

Original application filed November 11, 1910, Serial No. '591,770. Divided and this application filed January 15, 1913.

-countyof Summit, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Apparatus for Making Tires, of

Which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus designed for the building up of solid rubber tires'or similar articles, in accoi-dance with the methods set forth and described .inour pending application, Serial Number 591,77 O, filed November l1, 1910,'of which said application the present application is a division. Solid rubber tires have heretofore been made in which the body of the tire of resilient material was vulcanized to and .carried by a harder composition, which latter was in turn vulcanized to and carried by a. metallic band capable of being attache-d to a rim mounted upon the felly of a wheel in a simpler and more rigid manner than was attainable in the attachingr of the rubber tire llirec'tly to the channel or rim of a wheel. Difficulties'have been experienced, however, n applying the rubber compound to the meallic base or rim, particularly where the utter was-grooved or otherwise roughencd o cause thefrubber to interlock with it and dhere to it'closely.

Our invention comprises improved proc- ;ses by :which the rubber compound can be Jenly laid vupon the metal base or. rim and ir'cedinto any grooves formed in the rim r thepurpose of interlocking with the ibber, forming the subject-matter of our ior application, and particularly to an imoved machine for practising saidproc- ;es, forming the subject-matter of 'the esent divisional application.

In the laccompanying drawings which rin a part of 4this specification, and in ich avpreferred embodiment of our inition isA lshown by way'of illustration,

rure lis a front elevation of a machine bodying our improvements; Fig. 2 is ac e elevation of the same, the driving gearand roll carrying journal boxes being itted for the sake of clearness; Fig. 3 is a gitudinal sectional view on an enlarged .e illustrating the action of the wire belt Serial No. 742,128.

elevation of the Wire belt and'drums carrying thesame; Figs. 7 and 8 are detail' views of.` ortions of the arms of the rim carrying spi er, and Fig. 9 is a transverse section Patented May 16, 1916.

through a completed tire made with our machine and shown mounted upon a. Wheel felly.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Fig. 9, it will be seen that the form of the tire which itis desired to make,comprises a tire body or tire proper 1 of resilient material molded upon and preferably vulcanized to a metal base or rim 2, adapted to be secured by flanges, not shown, or'in any other suitable manner, to

:i steel rim 4, shrunk or otherwise mounted upon the wheel felly 3. The resilient portion of the tire may be formed throu hout of homogeneous compound, but we pre er to make the same in at least two layers, the inner one of which 5, which engages directly with the metallic rim, being preferably formed of a compound of such nature that when vulcanized it will become comparatively hard. Upon this layer of compound is laid' an outer layer 6, compounded in such a way that when subjected to the vulcanizing action it will acquire the proper resiliency to render it capable of acting as a cushion and to make it suitable forengagement with the road surface. The entire tire is preferably vulcanized at one operation,l but the nature of the compounds forming the layers 5 and G is such that when the Same degree of vulcanization each assumes the desired degree of hardness. The ingredients and composition of such compounds are Well known and need not be further described here.

. Referring now to our apparatus, the same comprises a spider or chuck 10, capable of supporting the rim 2. The spider preferably comprises a series of arms, shown as four, two of which have pointed ends 11, which engage within the rim, while the-ends of` the other two arms-are bent at right angles, as indicated at 12 in Fig. 7, pointed set screws passing through the openings in the portions '12. The set screws are drawn back and the rim applied t0 the. Spider` being upon the pointed ends 11 when the set screws may be screwed out and caused to eng" ge port-ions of the rim opposite to those engaged by points 1l.

The spider 10 is journaled upon a studsliaft 14 projecting from an arm 15 supported at one end from a shaft 1, journaled in bearings 17 secured to a fixed support. lt is obvious that in place of the spider'any other suitable means for rotatably7 supporting the rim may be employed. `Below the rim is mounted a pair of drums 18 and 19 which carry a wire belt or series of wire belts 20. Each belt may be formed of a single endless wire passed a number of times over the drums, which4 are preferably grooved, or may be formed of a plurality of individual endless wires. The former is ,the preferred construct-ion, as a greater' uniormity of tension on the different turns is attainable. In this construction, the turns of the endless wire pass around the drums lying in grooves therein which serve to 'guide the turns and keep them-alLparalleh a bracket 22 projecting from a fixed support, a sprocket 23 being secured to the shaft and receiving power 'from any suitable source in order 'to rotate the drum 18 and drive the belt 20. The shaft 24 of the drum 19 is journalcd in bearings formed in the ends of a pair ot' arms 25 pivoted to the-shaft 21 of the drum 18, the ends of these pivoted arms being supported in any suitable manner, as upon standards 26. 4.

The periphery of the rim 2 rests upon the upper run of the wirebelt'and is pressed thereagainst by its own weight end that of the arm 15, which .may be supplemented, if necessary, by hanging a weight 27 upon the end of the arm 15. The layer of rubber compound 3() is fed upon the belt 20 and carried by the latter into engagement with the rim upon which it-is rolled. The separate Wires of the belt force the rubber into engagement with the rim, following thecontour of the latter whether regularor otherwise. dor ,Y

instance, if the rim is provided with undercut circumferential grooves 31, as shown, some of the Wires 32 will lenter these grooves and roll the rubber compound thoroughly thereinto. Thus the wires 5provide a belt consist-ing of sepa-rate yieldable elongated portions whose surfaces will urge the rubber toconform to anyVi-unevcnness 'it The wire, being elastico-x yieldabe under tension and permit the dis "een the rim is localized and their action is there? fore more effectual. The strip of rubber compound 30, may be supplied to the belt in any desired manner, but it is preferable to mount the apparatus above described adjacent to a calendering machine, utilizing the frames 40 of the latter as the support for the bearings 17 and brackets 22. Y'

The calendering machine may be of any v:ell-kno\vn construction, that shown compri-sing the upright frames 40 having vertical openings41 therein in which slide the journal boxes 42 carrying the massive metal rolls 43. The mass of rubber compound 44' is fed from a platform 45 between thefupper pair of calendering rolls, passing in a vstrip around the middle roll, be Lun-xm the middle and lower roll, and around and beneath the latter to the belt 20. The rolls 43 are geared together by means of spur gears 46, one of the rolls, preferably the middle one, carrying the large gear 47 driven from a pinion` 48 carried on the shaft of a motor 49, or'in any other suitable manner. The power for driving the belt 20 may conveniently be taken from one of the rolls, as, for example,

vby means of a chain 50 passing Aover the sprocket 23 afld over a sprocket 51 secured to the projecting end of the journal of the lower roll. I

In the making of tires according to our inventin, we preferably provide a number of i calcndering machines having attached thereto the apparatus above describedfor rolling the rubber compound upon the rims, one

complete machine being provided for each l chine, which applies the compound for' forming the outer part of the tire'. Y After enough of this has been vrolled upon the rim,

the rim -andtire' are placed in a mold and subjected to 'a vulcanizing action, which cures the rubber and causes the same toadhere firmly' to the metal rim.

'Ve have shown in the drawings and described in detail one specificymodication of our invention, but the same is chosen merely Y for purposes of illustration, and We do not desire to be limited to the exact construction set forth.

Having thus described our invention, We claim:

1. In a machine for forming a resilient tire tread upon a rim, in combination, means for revolubly supporting the rim, means adapted to engage the periphery of said rim comprising a member exerting a localized pressure over at least one portion of said rim or an uncompleted tread thereon, and means for feeding rubber compound between said member and said rim.

2. n a machine for forming a resilient tire tread uponI arim, in combination, means for revolubly 4'supporting the rima belt having yieldable portions adapted to engage the periphery of said rim and to localize the pressure thereon; and means for feeding rubber compound between said belt and said rim.

3. lin a machine for forming a resilient tire tread upon a rim, in combination. means for rorolubly supporting the rim, and a power-driven belt having separate yieldable portions engaging the periphery of .said rim.

4A. In a machine for forming a resilient tire tread upon a rim, in combination, a belt having separate elastic portions adapted to conform to unevennesses in the rim and supported in substantially horizontal position, and means for revolubly supporting the rim in a vertical position above said belt, the weight of said rim being carried by said belt.

5. In a tire making machine, a ,fixed support, an arm pivoted thereto, means carried by said arm for revolubly supporting the rim. and a belt havingr separate yieldable portions under tension mounted below said rim in engagementwith the periphery thereof.

i5. ln a tireanaking machine, a support for the tire and an endless compound applying belt comprising a plurality of longitudinally separate sections.

7. ln a tire making machine, a support for the tire and an endless compound applying belt comprising a plurality of substantially parallel strands of wire.

n a machine for forming a resilient tire tread upon a rim, in combination, means for revolubly supporting the rim, and an endless belt formed of a plurality of strands of wire in engagement with said rim.

9. In a machine for forming a resilient tire tread upon a rim, in combination. means for revolubly supporting the rim, and an endif, belt formed of a plurality of strands of wire in engagement with said rim, means for driving said belt, and means for urging said rim, in the direction of said belt.

10. In a machine for forming a resilient tire tread upon a rim, in combination, means to support said rim, a set of calendering rolls, and means for receiving a rubber compound from said rolls in a continuous strip and applying said strip to the periphery of said rim comprisingr a member exerting a localized pressure over at least one portion of said rim or the uncompleted tread thereon.

11. In a machine for forming a resilient tire tread upon a rirn, in combination, a set of calendering rolls, means for revolubly supporting the rim, and a belt having separate yieldable portions mounted adjacent to the periphery of said rim and receiving the rubber compound from said rolls in a Continuous strip and applying said strip to the rim.

1*?. ln a machine for forming a resilient tire tread upon a rim, in combination, a set of calendering rolls, an endless belt having separate yieldable portions receiving the rubber compound from said rolls, and means for supporting the rim in Contact with said belt.

13. In a machine for making solid rubber tires, means for supplying a. continuous strip of plastic sheet rubber compound, and means for applying said strip in layers of uniform thickness upon a rim base presenting an uneven periphery.

14. ln a machine for making solid rubber tires, means for supplying a continuous strip of plastic sheet rubber compound, and means for applying said strip in layers of uniform thickness upon both the even and uneven portions of a rim base presenting a grooved periphery.

15. In a machine for making rubber tires, means for supplying a continuous strip of plastic sheet. rubber compound, and means for rollingV said strip upon both the ridges and grooves of the periphery of a rim base presenting an uneven periphery, saidmeans automatically adapting itself to the uneven periphery of said rim base.

16. In a machine for forming a resilient tire tread upon a rim, in combination, a set of calerulering rolls. a frame therefor, an arm pivoted to said frame to swing in a substantially vertical plane, means carried by said arm for revolubly supporting the rim, and an endless belt supported beneath said arm and having a su'l'istantially horizontal run upon which the periphery of the rim rests, said belt receiving the rubber compound from said set of rolls in a continuous stripv and applying the same to the periphery of said rim.

17. In a machine for forming resilient tire tread upon a rim, in combination, a set of calendering rolls, a frame therefor, an arm pivoted to said frame to swing in a substantially vertical plane, means carried by said arm for revolubly supporting the rim, a bracket carried by said frame, a horizontal shaft journaled in bearings on said bracket, a drum mounted on said shaft,- a second Shaft substantially parallel to said first shaft, a drum mounted on said second shaft, an endless belt carried by said drums and having a substantially horizontal vupper run upon which the periphery of said rim rests and by which said rim and its carrying arm are supported, and means for driving said belt. i

18. vIn a machine for forming a resilient tire tread upon a rim, in combination, a set of calendering rolls, a frame therefor, an arm pivoted to said frame to swin in a substantially vertical plane, a sha carried by said arm, said shaft being substantially parallel to the axes of said rolls, a spider mounted on said shaft and provided with means for'eugaging the rim, a bracket carried by said frame, a shaft journaled in bearings carried by said bracket, said shaft being parallel to the axes of said rolls, a

drum mounted on said shaft, a second druml rotatable about an aXis substantia ly parallel with the axis. of said shaft, an endless belt comprising a plurality of strands of wire carried by said drums. the upper run of said belt being substantially horizontal and engaging the periphery of said rim and supporting the same, and the spider and arm upon which the rim is mounted, means for driving s aid rolls, and means for transmitting power from said rolls to the drum carried by said bracket.

19. In a machine for forming a resilient tire upon a rim, in combination, means for supporting a rim, means adapted to engage the periphery of said rim comprising a member having a yieldable portion exerting a localized pressure over one portion of the rim, and means for feeding rubber compound between said member and said rim.

20. In a machine for forming ya resilient tire upon a rim, in combination, means for supporting the rim, a belt having yieldable portions adapted to engage the periphery of the rim, and means to drive said belt to thereby impart motion to said rim.

21. In a machinefor forming a resilient tire upon a rim, in combination. a iran-A3. means for supporting` a rim thereon, :i power-driven belt having separate yieldable portions adapted to engage the periphery of said rim, said power-driven belt being supported by said'frame below said rim.

22. In a machine for forming a resilient tire upon a rim, in combination, a frame,

means for supporting a rim thereon, a

power-driven belt having separate yieldable.

ported upon grooved rolls held by said frame.

23. In a machine 'For forming a ririlient tire upon a rim, a framework, an arm oivotally supported by id framewor. and adapted to hold a rim in position, belt having separate yieldable portions adapted to engage the periphery of said rim, said belt being mounted upon `and driven by a grooved roll retained by said framework, and a second grooved roll supporting the belt at a different point, said belt in its passage between said rolls being substantially horizontal.

24. In a machine for forming a resilient tire upon, a rim, in combination, a frame- Work, a rotatably held arm projecting therefrom, means on said arm for retaining a rim in upright pdsition, and an endless Wire belt having a series of substantially parallel Strands supported by said trame work beneath said arm and adapted to en gage, from side to side, the periphery of said rim.

25. In a machine for forming a resilient tire upon a rim, in combination, means for supportingr the rim, a power-driven belt having separate yieldable portions engagingl the periphery of said rim, and means for feedingr rubber compound between said member and said rim.

26. In a machine for forming a resilient tire upon a rim, in colnbination, means for supporting the rim, a power-driven belt yhaving separate yieldable portions engaging the periphery of said rim, and means for feeding rubber compound between said member and said rim comprising a set of calendering` rolls adapted to form a thin sheet of rubber compound, said rolls being positioned to deliver the sheet upon said belt and to thereby bring it in contact with the periphery of said rim.

27. In a machine vfor forming a resilient tire upon a rim, in combination, a framework, calendering rolls mounted therein, a` rubber supply for feeding between said rolls, means to support a rim upon said frame in a position opposite said rolls, and a power-drh'cn belt supported by Said frame bolo'VU said rim-supporting means, said belt being adapted to contact with the periphery of said rim and to urge rubber compound received from the calendering rolls into contact with said rin.

JOHN R. GAMMETER. WALTER H. ALLEN.

. Witnesses:

R. M. PmusoN, WALTER K. MEANS. 

